In a move reflecting the profound transformations underway in the Saudi Arabian justice sector, His Excellency the Minister of Justice, Dr. Walid bin Mohammed Al-Samaani, inaugurated the second edition of the International Judicial Conference in Riyadh. His Excellency announced an exceptional achievement: the "predictability of judicial rulings" has reached over 70%. He emphasized that this significant leap forward is a direct result of the unwavering support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the direct oversight and guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, who is leading the comprehensive modernization and development process within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
Historical background and context of reforms
This conference builds upon the success of its inaugural edition, which focused on envisioning the future of justice in the digital age. Today, under the theme of “Judicial Quality,” the discussion moves to a more advanced level, measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of judicial systems. This development is not a coincidence, but rather rests on a robust legislative infrastructure established over the past few years. The Kingdom has witnessed a series of major legislative reforms, most notably the issuance of specialized laws such as the Evidence Law, the Personal Status Law, and the Civil Transactions Law. These laws have contributed to unifying legal principles and codifying rulings, thus reducing the scope for individual interpretation and enhancing judicial stability, which directly explains the significant increase in the predictability of judgments.
The importance of the achievement and its expected impact
The fact that the predictability of court rulings has exceeded 70% carries significant strategic implications both domestically and internationally. Domestically, this indicator reinforces the principle of “legal certainty,” enabling individuals and companies to anticipate the potential outcomes of legal disputes with a high degree of certainty, thus encouraging amicable dispute resolution and reducing the duration of litigation. Internationally, this achievement sends a strong message to foreign investors that the Kingdom’s investment environment has become more mature, stable, and attractive. Legislative clarity and the predictability of court rulings are among the most important factors any investor looks for before committing capital, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of the Saudi economy.
Complete digital transformation: from theory to practice
Dr. Al-Samaani explained that the concept of judicial quality is not limited to judgments, but extends to encompass the entire litigant journey. The Kingdom has successfully achieved the stage of “fully digital litigation,” where all procedures, from filing the lawsuit through the exchange of memoranda and pleadings to receiving the judgment, are now conducted electronically via unified platforms. To enhance transparency and reliability, the feature of recording court sessions with audio and video has been activated, making them available to the parties to the case for review at any time. These technological procedures have not only increased efficiency but have also contributed to achieving a beneficiary satisfaction rate exceeding 90%, reflecting the system’s success in meeting the aspirations of society.
Judicial quality as a cornerstone of sustainable development
The Minister of Justice concluded his remarks by emphasizing that judicial quality is no longer an end in itself, but rather an effective tool for supporting sustainable development. A swift, transparent, and clear judicial system directly contributes to improving the business environment, protecting rights, and enhancing confidence in the national economy. By consolidating these principles, the Kingdom continues its journey towards achieving the goals of Vision 2030 and building a prosperous economy and a vibrant society that upholds the values of justice and integrity.
